Process of manufacturing balusters, pillars, or the like.



` Ff P. GROUP Patented'May I, |900. PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURING BALUSTEBS,P ILLAS, UR THE LIKE. (Application led June 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 1

6 Sheets-Sheet iNVENTOR "MA u. C- ATTORNEY.

No. 648',6I2. Patent'ed May I, |900. E. P.' GRUDE.

PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURING.BA-LUSTERS, PILLARS, A0R THE LIKE. (Applicationled June 29, 1899.)

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Patented may l, 1900.

No. 648,6I2.

l F. P. Gnomi.. PBCESS 0F MANUFACTURING B`ALUSTERS, PILLBS, 0R THE LIKE.

(Applicaton med June 29, 1899.)

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INVENTOR BY'YML vga mi" M.'

WITNESSES:

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Patented May l, |900. Fr P. GRDDE. PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURING BALUSTERS,PILLARS, 0R THE LIKE.

(Application led June 29,` 1899.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR BwM/JL /Qa'UL/L )w wh ai ATTORNEY.

Patented May l, i900.

No. 648,6l2.

F. P. l'lUDE.

PROCESS 0F MAXNUFAGTURINGl BALUSTERS, PILLABS, 0B THE LIKE.

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Patented May 5|, |900.

F. P. GBQDE. PRocEs-s oF MANUFACTURING AL'usTlans, P|LLAns,on THE LIKE.

(Application led June 29, 1899.) (N0 MDBL) 8 Sheets- Sheet 6.

INVENTOR rWw/L ./Qrac...

Lil/L @lw- ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK I). GROD, OF DUBUQUE, IOW'A.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING BALUSTERS, PILLARS, 0R THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,612, dated May 1,1900.

Application filed June 29, 1899. Serial No. 722,352. (No model.)

provements in Processesof Manufacturing Balusters, Pillars, or the Like;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, .I

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to a new and novel artin turninga numberofsimilar formsY from wood, in the manufacture of balusters, pillars,spindles, base-angles, newels, and the like used for building purposes,whereby not only a large variety of new and novel designs are produced,but great economy both in labor and material is experienced.

- It consists, essentially,in assemblinga number of blanks of materialtogether-,preferably in pairs, clamping the group together by itsperiphery, then turning in a lathe the required design upon the outsideof the assembled blanks, then shifting the relation of the sides of themembers of the blank, reclamping, again turning the outside of thegroup, and repeating such shifting and turning until the same givendesign is completed on eachy blank.

The following description fully explains the nature of my invention andhow I obtain th objects sought.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown not only sections ofcertain designs and the different operations whereby the designs arecompleted, but also a convenient clamp or chuck for holding the blanksin-the turning-lathe.

Figure l is a side elevation of a turninglathe with the chuck andtail-center therein. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the chuck, taken fromone end and side. Fig. 3 shows a perspective of the chuck from theopposite end of Fig. 2. Fig. et is a perspective of one of the plates inthe chuck. Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the back-center. Fig.6 is an end view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a crosssection of four blanks ofthe material assembled together before inserting in the turning- Fig. 8shows a section after the first cut in the turning-lathe, and the dottedlines show the parts cutoff from the blanks by the first turning. Fig. 9shows a cross-section of the completed baluster, the curved solid linesindicating the line of turning and the dotted lines showing the partscut away. Fig. lO is a cross-section of four blanks before any turninghas been done thereon. Figs. 11 and l2 show cross-sections of the blanksin Fig. 10 afterthe successive turnings, the curved solid linesrepresenting the line of the various turnings and the dotted lines theparts cut away. Fig. 13 shows a cross-section of a pair of blanks beforeany turning is done thereon. Figs. 14 and 15 are cross-sections of theblanks shown in Fig. 13 after the various turnings, the solid curvedlines representing the line of the turnings and the dotted lines theparts cut away. Fig. 1G shows a cross-section of four blanks. Figs. 17,18, 19, and 2O represent cross-sections of Fig. 1G after each successiveturning has been made, the solid curved lines representing the line onwhich the various turnings were done and the dotted lines representingthe parts cut away. Fig. 21 showsia cross-section of four blanks. Figs.'22, 23, and 21 show cross-sections after each successive turning, thesolid curved lines representing the line of turning and the dotted linesthe parts cut away by the turnings. Fig. 25 shows a side elevation of apillar made by uniting together the completed parts shown in Fig. 24..Fig. 26 shows a cross-section of eight blanks before any turning is donethereon. Figs. 27, 2S, 29, and 30 show cross-sections of said blanksafter the various turnings have been made, the solid. curved linesindicating where the turning was made in each gure and the dotted linesshowing the part cut away by the successive turnings. Figs. 31represents a perspective of a section of a balustrade having a pillar, anewel-post,

`and a variety of different-shaped balusters.

Fig. 32 is a side elevation of a baluster shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 33 isan edge view of the same. i

Like figures of reference denote corresponding parts in all of theviews.

In putting into practice my invention I employ a grasping device orchuck, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. It consists in ahollow rectangularcasting having the sides 1, 2, 3, and 4, open at one end and the otherformed into a IOO plate 20.

truncated cone 6, and screw-threaded at 8 for the purpose of attachingit to the head-stock of aturning-lathe. (Shownin Fig. 1.) Through eachone ofthe sides, near the ends, are formed screw-holes, in which are setthe thumb-screws 1o, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Within the body ofthe chuck, to the end of the thumbscrews 10 and 14, is rigidly fasteneda metal (Shown in Fig. 4.) A like plate is similarly secured to thethumb-screws 11 15 13 16 12 17. lt is evident that when certain kinds ofwork are to be operated upon in this chuck there will be no need ofusing more than the thumb-screws 10, 11, 12, and 13.

For the purpose of sustaining the chuck when in use a central portion 22of the outside between the thumb-screws 10 and 14 is formed into acircle. There is also adjustably set upon the bed of the lathe a rest24, upon which the circular portion 22 travels for the purpose ofsustaining the chuck in a horizontal position when it is heavilyladenedwith material. The chuck so formed is attached to a Spindle 25 of thehead-stock 2S of the lathe. This lathe is provided with the usualcone-pulley 30, around which a belt (not shown) is attached .to thepower and drives the shaft 25, and with it the chuck. The lathe may beof any well-known pattern and provided with the tail-stock 32, having abackcenter 36. (Shown in detail in Figs. 5 and G.) It consists of a stem3S, terminating at the front end in a cup 40, having a sharp or cuttingedge. The center of the stem 3S is recessed out at 4l, and in thisrecess is inserted the centering-pin 42, having the stein 44 andsurrounded by coiled Wire 45 for the purpose of giving elasticity to thepin 42.

The manner whereby this art of turning is accomplished is substantiallyas follows: For the manufacture of balusters and the like of any givenshape-suck for example, as 50,

(shown in cross-section in Fig. 9)1 take four square pieces of lumber ofthe required length and insert them in the chuck to near the inner endbetween the plates 20 and then tighten all the thumb-screws in the chuckevenly until the four pieces are slightly held. The tailstock 35 is thenforced up against the other end of the four pieces 50, bringing the pin42 to the center, Where the inner corners of the four pieces 50 toucheach other, then forcing the cutting edges of the cup 40 into the endsof each of the four pieces. The thumb-screws 10,- 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, and 17 are tightened and rigidlyhold the fourpieces. Power is thenapplied to the cone-pulley 30, which revolves the chuck, and with it thefour pieces. The operator then turns the desired design upon the fourpieces at once, cutting to the solid line 52 in Fig. 8, and removes theparts 53. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.)

After this iirst turning has been iinished the thumb-screws are loosenedand the relations of the four blanks to each other are shifted by givingeach one of the blanks a quarter-turn, then tightening the thumb-screws,and turning upon lines 54, as shown in Fig. 9, leaving the completedbalusters 50 as shown in Fig. 9, with the parts shown in dotted linesturned off. This completed baluster 50 is shown in perspective in Fig.31.

Fig. 10 shows the four blanks 55 before any' turning has been donethereon, and in Fig. 11 is shown the first cut along the line 56. InFig. 1'2 the balusters are given a half-turn instead of a quarter-turn,as in Fig. 9, and the cut is then made on the line 5S. W'hen thebaluster 55 is completed, it will present the general appearance of anellipse, as shown in Fig. 12 and also shown in perspective in Fig. 31 at55. The parts 57 and- 58 are cut away.

Fig. 13 shows two blanks GO, and Fig. 14 shows the first cut along theline 61, and in Fig. 15 the blanks have been given a half turn, and theturning is then along the line 62. The completed baluster (30 is shownin Fig. 15 with the parts 63 and 64 removed by the turning. (Shown indotted lines.) Said completed baluster is shown in elevation in Figs. 32and Fig. 16 shows four blanks 65, and in Fig. 17 the first turning isdone along the line 6G, cutting away the parts 67, (shown in dottedlines,) leaving the baluster G5. The relations of the partiallycompletedbalusters G5 are changed by giving each one a half-turn, and the nextturning is done along the line 70, as shown in Fig. 1S, showing theparts cut away in dotted lines. The relations of these uncompletedbalusters are then changed by giving each of them a quarter-turn, andthen the operator will cut to line 72, as shown in Fig. 19, leaving theparts cut away. (Shown in dotted lines 67 and 68.) In order to coinpletethese and form a new design, the operator changes the relations of theuncoinpleted balusters 65 by giving each one of them a half-turn in thechuck and then turning along the line 74, as shown in Fig. 20, when thedesign is completed and represents a square with curved sides. (Shown inperspective in the newel-post 65 in Fig. 31.)

In Fig. 21 four blanks 75 are shown, and the first turning is done alongthe line 7 6 in Fig. 22, cutting away the parts 78. (Shown in dottedlines.) After this first turning has been finished then the relation ofthe blanks are changed in the chuck by giving them a halfturn, as shownin Fig. 23. The second turning is then along the line 79, removing theparts 80. The operator then changes the relation of the blanks 75 bygiving thema quarter-turn and turning along the line 82, as shown inFig. 24. This completes the turning upon these blanks. They may then beremoved from the chuck and united together, as shown at 75 in Fig. 24,and will present the appearance of a pillar 75, as shown in Fig. 25, andall that will be necessary to complete the pillar will be to add the capS5 and the base 8G. The saine pillar 75 is also shown in perspective inFig. 31.

Fig. 26 shows eight blanks 90, 95, 96, .98,

IOO

' shown in Fig. 31 at 50.

100, 102, 101, and 106. The first turning is done along the line 91 andthe part 92 out away by such turning, as shown in Fig. 27. After thefirst turning then the relations of the blanks 90, 95,101, and 106 arechanged by simply changing the position of the blank 90 to 95 and 95 to90 and also by the same reversing of the blanks 101 and 106. Theoperator then turns along the line 93, removing the parts 94:. They willthen present the appearance as shown in Fig. 28. The relations of thevarious parts are changed by exchanging the position of the blank 95with the blank 96 and the blank 90 with 9S, also the blank 100 with 106and 102 With 104, and by inverting the position of the blanks 90 and95rand 1041 and 106, as shown in Fig. 29. The operator then turns alongthe line 97, removing the parts 99. The relation of the blanks is againand iinally changed by interchanging the blank 96 with that of the blank98 and the blank 100 With that of 102. The operator then turns along theline 101, removing the parts 103, when the balusters are completed andWill then present the appearance shown in Fig. 30 and also In Fig. 3l isshown in perspective a section ot' a balustrade with the corner-pillar75 and the newel-post 65 united together by the top rail 110 and thebottom rail 111, and between are the various balusters 50, 60, 65, andothers.

It will be observed that there will be a great saving in lumber by thisart of manufacturing balusters and the like from the fact that thesmaller the stick of lumber the cost is much less in proportion. Again,it will be observed that there is great economyin labor, as a number ofbalusters may be completed almost as quickly as one by the presentprocess. It will also be observed that the variety of designs that maybe made by this art are almost.numberless and such as cannot be formedby the ordinary turning from a single piece. It Will further be observedthat pillars such as shown in Figs. 25 and 31 can be readily turned Withunlimited designs and then united `together after the turning has beenaccomplished.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. The art of turning a number of similar forms at the same time, Whichconsists in assembling a number of blanks, clamping the group by itsperiphery, then turning in a lathe the desired design, upon the outsideof the group, substantially as described and shown.

2. The art of turning a number of similar forms at the same time, whichconsists in first grouping a number of blanks, clamping such group byitsperiphery, then turning in a lathe the outside of the group, thenshifting the relations of the members of the group, reclamping and againturning the outside of the members of the group in their new relation,substantially as described and shown.

3. The improvement in the art of turning a number of similar forms atthe same time, which consists in first grouping a number of blanks,clamping the group by its periphery, then turning in a lathe the outsideof the group, then shifting the relations of the sides of each member ofsaid group, reclamping the group, then turning the outside of the groupvin their new relation and repeating such shifting and turning till thedesired de-v sign is turned on all the members of the group,substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK P. GRODE.

Vitnesses:

M. M. CADY, J. B. LANE.

